In Joseph Conrad’s 1904 novel “Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard,” the fictional South American republic of Costaguana is plagued by instability and corruption.
The story centers around Gian Battista Fidanza, known as Nostromo, a charismatic Italian expatriate and valued employee of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company.
After helping to safeguard a valuable silver shipment during a revolution, Nostromo becomes embroiled in a complex web of politics, greed, and deception. His own identity and morals are gradually compromised as he navigates the treacherous waters of Costaguana’s power struggles.
Conrad explores themes of isolation, loyalty, and the corrosive influence of materialism.
Through Nostromo’s tragic trajectory, Conrad masterfully critiques imperialism, capitalism, and the human condition.
The novel’s non-linear narrative and innovative narrative techniques create a rich, immersive portrait of a troubled land and its people, cementing “Nostromo” as a modernist masterpiece of 20th-century literature.
